Improvement in life-preservers



UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFI E.

FRANCIS M. ENGLISH, CE HENDERSO KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT lN LlFE-PRESERVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,217, dated February 29, 1876; application filed I November 24, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS MARIoN ENG- LISH, of the city of Henderson, county of Henderson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Life-Preserver, the nature of which is set forth in the following specifications, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. I

The object ofmy invention is to secure the maximum of buoyant power and the minimum of bulk and weight, and a convenient form for application to the person, in a life-preserver which requires no inflation and is always ready for use. It consists in combining hermetically sealed vessels, of the form hereinafter. described, and an elastic flexible-belt corset or jacket, as hereinafter fully set forth.

My drawing fully illustrates the construction, application, and operation of my inventhe form of hollowcylinders, connectedlongitudinally by a cur vilinearshaped chamber of lessdia'meter than the cylinders, so that the configuration fits the form of the person using it. The vessel has a partition on the inside, that, should one section of it become disabled by accident, the other will be sufficient to uphold the person in water without danger of sinking. The ends of the vessels are rounded, to secure greater strength, ease'in application to the person, and to prevent injury to the body from a plunge into Water with great force or from unusual height. They vary in number and size, to construct life preservers of different lifting capacities and adaptation to suit 7 persons of different sizes and weight.

1 am aware that hermetically-sealed metal vessels have been used as life-preservers but I Claim that my manner of constructing and combining hermetically-sealed metal vessels for a life-preserver is new and greatly advantageous.

1 claim- A life-preserver consisting of the vessels b b, of the form described, attached to a belt or jacket, substantially as set forth.

FRANCIS M. ENGLISH. Witnesses J. M. STONE, J. F. LOGKETT. 

